Need some advice

[Slasher]

Ok I have some knowledge in obedience but I want to try to find some different methods to train my cocker. I want to use somewhat positive reenforcement but I don't know how to go at it. I want to try to bond with him more and try some different ways. I have read some things on clicker training and I wanted to know what everyone thought would be the best to train him with. I will try to use all the methods mentioned and finally make a choice so please tell me any advice you can give.

[Doberluv]

Clicker training has been shown to be very, very effective and produces very happy, well bonded dogs who love to learn, learn HOW to learn better and it's just plain fun. Have you seen this site? http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/obpage4.cfm

Even if you don't use a clicker, the concepts are so good. Movie animals, sea mammals, service dogs...animals of all kinds are trained using this scientific learning theory....operant/classical conditioning.

It's how I mainly train my dogs, not always with a clicker, but definitely emphasising motivation and reward rather than punishment. I didn't start out that way, but when I began implimenting this, I saw a huge, favorable difference in how my dogs responded.

[13boxergrl]

another good way to train is using a "can" you fill up a tin can using pennies, marbles, rocks, anything to make a loud noise. it works better than the clicker in my opinion, and it's cheaper. i recently used the can to teach my uncle's bullmastiff pup, samson, to stop eating the plants. it took no longer than a week!

[opokki]

another good way to train is using a "can" you fill up a tin can using pennies, marbles, rocks, anything to make a loud noise. it works better than the clicker in my opinion, and it's cheaper. i recently used the can to teach my uncle's bullmastiff pup, samson, to stop eating the plants. it took no longer than a week!

A filled can is usually used to startle a dog from doing something you don't want. This is the opposite of what a clicker is used for....to mark a behavior you would like to see repeated.

[opokki]

I want to use somewhat positive reenforcement but I don't know how to go at it.

Check out this link which has lots of clicker training articles, even on teaching specific behaviors:
http://clickersolutions.com/articles/index.htm

I also highly recommend the book, "Click for Joy" by Melissa Alexander. It will answer all you questions and concerns regarding clicker training.

[tessa_s212]

IMO, the BEST way to train any dog is with tons of positive reinforcement.

Some dogs just CANNOT take corrections.

Positive reinforcement can't do any harm if it is used incorrectly, while correctional/physical methods CAN. And I HAVE seen correctional based training go wrong. Actually, I see it every week due to the training club I train at.

Surely, once you build that confidence and the dog has learned the behavior, corrections are not horrible things so long as they are timed correctly. But, I will NEVER advocate correctional training to beginners. Too many things to go wrong, and I would never risk the poor dog like that.

And believe it or not, IMO, it doesn't matter how many years you train a dog. It is what you put into the years. ;) So even if I, for example, had been training blindly for five years without doing actual research into training and training methods, even after five years I would consider myself practically a beginner. I may have experience...but sometimes experience doesn't always equal knowledge.

Ken, I would recommend that you do alot of research into clicker training. I know that you will not be able to train with the clickers, but really it is the same principle a lot of times with positive reinforcement.